Rheostat.



10.757,687. Y vPATBNTED@121.119, 1904. LRSTOREY.

RHEOSTAT.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 2, 1903.v

NO MODEL.

L e e e UNITEQ STATES L Patented Aprn i9, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE;

I IM'LE sToREY, or AMSTERDAM, NEW'YORK.

RHEOSTAT.

sPEcIFrcA'r'IoN forming pm cf Letters Patent No. 7572687, dated Apri;19, 1904. Application filed separator 2,1903. senti No. 171,602. (Nomaar `To all whom/tt may concern: l

Be it known that I, IMLI; E. SToREY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Amsterdam,`

ber of which can be used to .build up the re-A sistance element of therheostat to 'any'required size. l

My'invention will be described in detail with reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which-4v' Figure 1 1s a side elevation of aportion of abase-plate and my improved resistance-element attachedthereto, parts being in section.

Fig. 2 is a face view of one of the connectors 'or couplings, and Fig.is a similar View of the end coupling.

Referring to the drawings, `A indicates the usual base-plateor support,of slate or other insulating material commonly used for this purpose.

v The resistance element consists of graphite or carbon in the form oftubes, as indicated at a. These tubes may be of any desired length, theybeing shown very small and similar to beads or buttons in the drawings.Thesel of the same size and shape.

` b and c and c are metallic heads or con'- nectors, each consisting oftwo disk-like ends, as shown inFig. 2, connected by a Web d. Thedisk-like ends have in one face a conical or cup-like depression intowhich the end of the graphite tube fits, and each disk-like portion isalso perforated centrally, as shown. These connectors are adapted to beapplied to either end of the resistance elements. They are arranged intwo sets,'one set (indicated by b and 6') being applied to one set pfends of the regraphite tubes for a given rheostat will lbe allsistance-Qlements,.whilegthe.other set, c and c', rare 'applied' totheother set of ends ofV the' I elements.

'e indicates 'bolts or threaded rods which are adapted to pass throughthe connecting-heads and the resistance elements to secure or bind theparts. together. These rods preferably havean integral `head on one.lend `.and a ref' `movable head consisting of a nut e on 'the other end.The parts' are assembled so thaty A.

the rod is insulated from the graphite resistresistance element andafperfor'ation for a '6p ance element a andfrom one of theconnecting-heads I) orc by an insulating-sleeve j' and binding orsupporting screw, as shown in Fig. 3. l

The complete. -rheostat is 'assembledk inthe following manner: The iirstresistance elementa isclamped .between the connectors g and the bolt ebeing inserted and insulated in such a manner that its` inner orrearward. A'

head is in electrical contact with the connector g only. Next the secondresistance element a is clamped between theconnectorc and the, connectorthe bolt-inv this instancebeing insulated from all parts except theconnector l c, the outer headof the bolt resting in con-- tact withthelatter. The third resistance element c isclamped `between the connector61 and the. connector c', and the bolt is `insertedso as to be inelectrical connection with the connector b only. The'fonrthresistanceele;

ment is clamped between connector c' andconf nector b', with the bolt incontact with c. In

the same manner anyvnumber of resistance elements may be connectedtogether with the bolts alternately arranged in contact with the frontand back connectors. Y ance element has attached to it the connector -nIt will thus .be seen that the several re sistance elements a areelectrically connected f in series by means of the connectorsc and c' c..This method of construction furnishes ready means for assembling thevarious parte',v

and at the Sametime affords good Contact bei5 Another importantadvantage of my invention residesin thei'act that by reason of thealternate arrangement ot' the threaded rods Likewise if I connect thethird wire with the outer end oi' the fourth bolt tlie'revwill be threeresistance elementsbetween thetwo wires. Also the two wires can bevconnected to any two adjoining bolts, and one resistance ele ment willalways be between them. This, it

will be seen, is accomplished without the necessity of making theconnections at the inner ends or" the resistance elements, where thespace narrow and the boltsare dilhcult of access. I therefore placebinding-nuts@ for wire con ductors on the outer end of each of thethreaded rods. Any of the connectors 7), c, g, or /t furnish convenientmeans for fasteningl the resistance to the base A. by the screws y'.

The conical ends or the resistance element,

which lits into correspondingly-shaped sockets' in the metal heads, inconnection with the clamping-rod which binds them together, furnishes anexcellent means for mounting the resistance element, since by setting`up the nuts on the rods theconical parts can be `forced into intimatecontact with each other.

Having described my invention, I claim 1. In a rheostat, a resistanceelement consisting of a tube of giaphite or similar material, incombination with metallic heads and a rod passing through the tube andengaging with the heads to clamp them against the ends of the tube.

2. In a rheostat, a resistance element consisting of a tube of graphiteor similar material having conical ends, in combination with metallicheadsl having conical seats for said ends, and a rod passingthrough thetube and 'ramer engaging with the heads to clamp them against the endsoi. the tube. i

3. In a .rheostat, the combination of a plud rality of parallel tubularresistance elements, metallic connectors along each set of ends thereofand connecting the elements in series, and rods passingthrough theelementsand securing the connectors tothe opposite ends thereof.

In a rheostat, the combination with a plurality of tubular resistanceelemente, metallic end pieces connecting them together in series, andinsulated rods extending through the tubes and .respectively in contactalternately with end pieces at opposite ends of the elements.

5. In a rneostat, the combination with a plurality otparallelresistance-r'ods, metallic connectors alongeach set of ends ofthe rods,

connecting the rods in series, and a series of binding' devices arrangedalong one set of ends ot' the rods and electrically connectedalternately with the two sets of metallic connohtors, for the purposeset forth.

6, In a rheostat, the combination of a plu-V rality of parallel tubularresistance elements, metallic connectors along each set of ends thereofand connecting the elements inseries, and rods passing through theelements and securing the connectors "to the opposite ends thereof, saidrods being in electrical connection with' one 'of the metallicconnectors only, anl binding devices for wires carried by each ro 7. Ina rheostat, the combination `ot a plurality of tubular parallelresistance elements, metallic heads or connectors connecting theelements in series,headed rods passing through the elements andconnectors to hold them together'and insulating material interposedbetween the rods and the elements and between one'of the heads of therods and the connec tor, for the purpose set forth.

In witness whereof I subscribe my signa- 'ture in presence ot'twowitnesses.

IMLE E. STOREY. l/Vitnesses:

WVM'. A. RosnNnAuM, WALDO M. CHAPIN.

